Dodger DEAD Line

Well, it isn't like I didn't warn you. In making my monthly trek back to the blog with a little pent up spirit, here I was thinking that the Dodgers were going to be serious players in this trade deadline market. I clearly see, I was just as caught up in all the speculation leading up to the deadline, which, for lack or better words, turned out to be a turd for most.

What is funny is that all the apologists are out in force. Dodger and LA Times bloggers are running rampant spreading the company line, "Teixera was never really a viable option in LA, and the Dodgers were never really players in that chase." Sure, I guess all that young talent that Ned Colletti doesn't want to give up and that everyone raves about were worthless seeing as how the Rangers, who would dress a monkey with a glove if they could, didn't want any part of them.

In reality, what came down was Colletti losing his spirit and his trigger finger, which in this case was a liability and not a blessing. A package of James Loney, Tony Abreu/Andy LaRoche, and another quality prospect was reportedly shot down by the Rangers. Yeah right. More like the Dodgers didn't to part ways with unproven guys because of some "pressure" that may exist in the media. Loney is a nice player, don't get me wrong, but the best he is going to do is Mark Grace and not Fred McGriff. Abreu and LaRoche, yeah OK, more unproven light hitters that can't adapt to big league pitching.

So then, was it that these guys really have that much promise and cannot be given in a trade, or is that the Colletti PR machine has been spitting out half truths about the true abilities of their prospects. I mean, Atlanta gave up far less then what the Dodgers offered, yet they managed to land two of the biggest prizes of the market. You're telling me the Dodgers, with all that wealth of talent, couldn't match or beat a Brave offer that was reminiscent of the bag of baseballs and stiffs that went to San Diego for the afore mentioned McGriff? That's a down right steal, and it isn't that John Shurholtz, Braves' GM, is that savvy, on the contrary, his moves are pedestrian at best with only one World Championship to show for it, a title that he and Bobby Cox won by default as Mike Hardgrove and John Hart were just as mediocre.

There is no telling what is going to happen in these final two months, but the talking point making the rounds that the other teams in the NL didn't do anything so it isn't that bad is also flawed. Sure, they didn't make any moves, but you forget that Arizona still has some young arms and bats that are hot at the right time and the Friars still have that pitching staff. So no, it's not the same because those teams are still hanging around and the Dodgers have played their best ball. Derek Lowe is hurt, Brad Penny is running out of quality starts, and the back of our rotation is a who's who of dead arms and deader heads. No it doesn't look good and, to top it all off, f'n Barry is in town and we have to deal with his steroid inflated ego in our town.

Not So Happy Times

These two are smiling because they managed to pull the wool over our eyes, again. Not only has Frank "the Bank" McCourt managed to deliver us who bleed blue another lack luster season full of old stiffs that amount to another second or third place finish and, if we are lucky, a kick in the head come playoff time, but all the promises that were made about getting better throughout the season, and "doing what we have to win" have also slipped out the other side of these con artist's mouths.

It may be a bit much, and I admit that when it comes to the blue, I am less than objective, however it's pretty troubling that Mark Texiera is going to the Braves for an unproven player, a minor leaguer, and the perpetual "player to be named." It's not like the Braves had to give up Brian McCann or Jeff Francouer for one of the best hitters in the American League, just a guy that has unproven hitting talent. Hell, Matt Kemp and James Loney can not only hit, but are proven complimentary players and are young talent. Why not trade one of these guys for a proven masher? I mean God damnit, how many more Nomar at-bats do we have to live through to realize that his better years are long past.

And if that wasn't enough, word on the street is that Octavio Dotel is on his way to the Braves as well. I mean seriously, is Ned Colletti asleep at the wheel or what? Did he have emergency spleen surgery or was held captive by a band of terrorists some where? That is the only reason to be caught off guard this bad. Seriously, talk about getting caught with your pants down. Now, the Dodgers don't have the proven bat down the stretch or the reliever they most desperately needed. There may be more to come, but right now I'm freaking too pissed to write anymore.

UPDATE
The trade deadline is looming and it looks like Trader Ned isn't going to pull the trigger on anything meaningful except recycled garbage, Scott Proctor. Also, to make things a little worse, this was taken from today's LA Times: "The Dodgers announced that they have surpassed the 3.5-million mark in ticket sales, making this the third consecutive season and fifth time overall in which the team will draw 3.5 million fans."

Congratulations fans, you suckers got rope-a-doped again.

Don't Expect The World When It Comes To Becks

July 13 is quickly approaching, and that can only mean one thing. Yes, David Beckham makes his debut in Los Angeles among the legions of footie novices that will now, no doubt, be rabid fans of the world's game. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Will Smith, and all those other Hollywood and Vermont Avenue freaks will be out in force to cheer on their man.

Am I excited, sure. Rarely are we given the opportunity to see a person that transcends his sport and becomes the icon for a game throughout the entire world. However I think that both the media and the marginal fan are going to lose their love with this sport and Becks shortly after they sit though an entire 90 minutes and Becks doesn't score. This begs a primer.

Becks get lauded as a goal scorer, and the above video illustrates why he was become a house hold name through the years. Yes, no one can quite bend it like Beckham, however as a midfielder, Beckham isn't exactly Ronaldo when it comes to being a prolific scorer. As a person who's job it is to deliver service, or passes, to forward players, Beckham is only as good as his forwards are. In the case of the Galaxy, the two up top that will have the added burden of having to convert a great crossing pass into a goal will be little known Nate Jaqua and American all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan. Sure LanDo knows how to score, but his game is greatly limited by a lack of one-on-one abilities that differentiate players like him to other MLS forwards such as Taylor Twellman or Brian Ching, although their talents are somewhat suspect as well. Landon is a "catch it in stride and hope to beat the keeper off his line" type of forward that has trouble running at defenders or winning balls in the air, ah la Brian McBride.

Also, Becks isn't the most nifty of foot, so to expect him to hold the ball in the midfield is also going to be a big ask. Beck's dribbling abilities are pedestrian at best and the visions that many have of him taking a ball in the lower third, dribbling up field, and delivering a cross at the foot of his forwards are also far fetched. Not only is Becks not going to play the hold the ball and wait to create an opportunity, but he is going to look to pass as soon as the ball is at his feet, something that runs counter to out "hold the ball for the last shot" mentality.

So what the hell am I trying to say? Well, don't look for the Galaxy games to look like the exciting brand of football that is seen in Europe. At they end of the day MLS is a league fill of guys that couldn't make it in Europe and want to live by the beach. However, if you care to watch and learn, then you will see why the subtleties of Beckham's game is the reason why people love him, and not the tattoos, brilliant fashion sense, or wild hair styles. For those that notice, the nuance is what it is all about, the above goal not withstanding.